Wire-fence stretcher.



1 J. MQINTEER.

WIRE FENCE STBETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1911.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Z V J j /ff m mg , 1 Inventor Attofneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH 60.,WASHIN1ITON. D. C.

JOSEPH MGINTEER, OFFRANKLIN, KENTUCKY.

WIRE-FENCE STBETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Application filed June 8, 1911. 'Serial No. 632,046.

lib all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MOINTEER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Simpson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Wire-Fence Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wire fence stretchers.

The inventionhas for its object to provide for readily and effectively performing the stretching or stressing operation, especially as in erecting a woven-wire fence bodily in position.

A further object is to provide for effecting such woven wire fence stretching or stressing operation with the aid .or employment of a number of intermediate members as chains or the like, or a single like medium or member.

A still further object is to provide for readily reversing or changing the position of the manually actuated lever under conditions making this necessary as in avoiding any obstructing object which would otherwise interfere with the requisite action or manipulation of said lever.

A still further object is to carry out the aforesaid ends in a simple, expeditious, economical and effective manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as relates to the detailed construction and arrangement of theparts' without departing from the spirit of my invention Figure l is a side elevation of my improved stretcher in full lined and dottedlinedpositions as in performing the stretching operation. Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view thereof; Figs.

3 and 4: are sectional viewsproduced upon the lines a1w and g respectively, of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a duplicate arrangement or. pairs of parallel members or bars 1, each pair or arrangement 1, including two longitudinal bars 2 preferably rectangular in general outline, said bars being connected at their ends, preferably, by suitable bolts 4: and 5, respectively. The two pairs or arrangements of longitudinal or bar has suitably connected thereto a clevis-like member or loop 7 through the medium of which and a suitable chain 8 or like means inserted therethrough, connection may be effected between the device or stretcher and any suitable stress or force resisting object, as a tree-stump or post 9 improvised for the purpose for suitably anchoring the stretcher in effective position.

The pairs of parallel members 2 have their opposite ends equipped with hooks or claws 10, said hooks or claws being preferably formed from plate-metal each twisted intermediate its length, the inner ends thereof being received and loosely held between the pairs of parallel members by the same means or bolts efieoting connection between the corresponding ends of the latter. The free or outer ends of the hooks or chains 8, which range at right angles to the trend of the shank or body portion thereof, extend or point laterally away from each other so as to allow of readily effecting connection therebetween and the links of chains 11 presumably secured at a common point upon an inclosure or fence forming woven wire fabric which it may be desired to suitably stretch or erect bodily in position, as constrasted with simply stretching a single wire. However, by simply withdrawing the attaching bolts of the hooked or claw members 10 and reversing the relative position of said clawmembers, the same then being pointed oppositely with the terminals arranged contiguous, it will be noted that said hooked or claw members may be disposed to suitably engage and effect the stretching of a single wire, as is believed to be apparent.

A suitable manually actuated lever 12, preferably of fiat-metal or bar outline, has its inner or one end suitably pivoted intermediate two or a pair of the longitudinal members 2, about centrally thereof, preferably by means of a bolt 13 which, however, is unequipped with the usual nut or. a key for its effective retention in place. Said lever has pivotal connection in like manner as at 14t with the opposite pair of corresponding longitudinal members and whereby it will be noted that, by suitably actuating said lever, with said pairs of longitudinal members applied as above indicated, the latter will have a back and forth shuttlelike movement directed from the header member 6 and be intermittently engaged from side to side with separate links of the chains 11 one in advance of the other, thus providing for suitably effecting the Wire or fence stretching operation, as in bodily erecting the same in position. In event an obstructing object, as a tree or the like, should interfere with suitably manipulating or actuating the lever 12 as initially disposed, the position of the lever may be reversed with respect to the opposite sides of the longitudinal members 2, to overcome such difficulty. To this end, the lever 12- has a duplicate arrangement of pivot-bolt receiving apertures 15, 16, in its hand-engaged portion whereby, with the withdrawal of the pivot bolts 13, 1 1 and the movement of the lever to bring the opposite end-portion thereof in position for the insertion of the pivot-bolts 13, 14 through the apertures 15, 16, respectively, the lever may be actuated from the opposite side of the longitudinal members, its previously pivoted portion forming the handle in that case, as will be readily appreciated.

It is clearly manifest from the foregoing disclosure, including the accompanying illustration or drawing that my invention is characterized for its extreme simplicity involving but few parts, accordingly inexpensive of manufacture, while it is convenient of application and actuation, besides being adapted for effecting the stretching or stressing operation with facility and expedition, and for adjustment so as to avoid obstructions which would otherwise interfere with the operation of the device.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described, including pairs of longitudinal members, means effecting pivotal connection between the pairs of longitudinal members, at one end of each pair, and a lever having pivotal connection with said longitudinal members about centrally thereof, said pairs of longi tudinal members being equipped with means i for aiding the stretching operation and said pivoting means of connection having connected thereto anchoring means.

2. Av device of the character described, including pairs of longitudinal members, a transverse-bar member having pivotal connection with said pairs of longitudinal members at one end of each pair, means at the opposite ends of said pairs of longitudinal members for aiding the stretching operation, a manually actuated lever having pivotal connection with said longitudinal members, aboutvcentrally thereof, and anchoring means applied through said transverse bar member for said longitudinal members.

3. A device of the character described, including pairs of longitudinal members, means effecting pivotal connection between said pairs of longitudinal members, at one end of each pair, means connected to said longitudinal members for aiding the stretching operation, means for anchoring said longitudinal members in position and a manually actuated lever pivotally connected to said members about centrally thereof.

1. A device of the character described, including pairs of longitudinal members, means effecting pivotal connection between said pairs of longitudinal members at one end of each pair, means connected to said longitudinal members for aiding the stretching operation, means for anchoring said longitudinal members in position, and a manually actuated lever having pivotal connection with said longitudinal members,

about centrally thereof, said manually actuated lever having duplicate pivot-receiving apertures therein to allow of the pivotal connection of said lever, at either end.

5. A device of the character described, including pairs of longitudinal members, means efiecting pivotal connection between said longitudinal members, at one end of each pair, means for actuating said longitudinal members, and claw-members loosely connected to said longitudinal members at the forward ends of the latter, said clawmembers being adapted for reversibility as respects the relative position of their object engaging ends.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

